This week is the All-Star showdown between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers

The two Blue Blood franchises have won a combined 34 World Series titles, the last in 2020 when the boys in blue won the title during the pandemic.

But since 1981, the two teams have not faced each other in a crucial moment. The last duel ended with the Dodgers winning their fifth title.

So what has changed in the last four decades? Well, a lot.

World Series ticket prices

It’s not cheap to attend the World Series, at least not anymore.

Tickets for this year’s showdown cost at least four figures: $1,034 for Friday and $1,209 on Saturday in Los Angeles.

In New York, the cheapest ticket for Game 3 is $1,385 and for Games 4 and 5 is $1,110.

At both stadiums, some tickets in 1981 were $20 for the baseline, $15 for the upper deck and $5 for the stands. In today’s currency, that’s an estimated $70, $52, and $17.

Gas prices

$1.35.

This is the highest gas price recorded all year in the United States in 1981.

But adjusted for inflation, it’s about $4.46, not so dissimilar to $4.68 today.

A gallon of milk

Milk is actually more affordable today than it was four decades ago.

In 1981, a normal gallon of milk cost Americans an average of $1.83, today it costs $6.35.

According to Cornell University, the average price of milk in the first four months of 2024 was $4.57.

Price of a new car

1981 was only the sixth year that the legendary Ford F150 was available for purchase. The starting price started at $6,765, with the top trim reaching $9,681. Adjusted, that’s $23,465.47 to $33,580.08 today.

The same base model 2024 F150 starts at $37,065 and can be optioned well over $100,000.

House prices

Remember when a single family was sold for a five-figure sum? Neither do we.

In 1981, the average cost of a home on the West Coast was $77,800. Adjusted for inflation, that’s just $269,861.

If you want to buy a home in Echo Park (next to Dodger Stadium) right now, it will cost you $1,077,623, according to Zillow.

Across California, prices are only slightly lower at $787,000.

What else happened in 1981?

Here are a few other things that happened in 1981:

• January 20 – Ronald Regan is sworn in as the 40th President of the United States.
• January 21 – The first DeLorean, best known for its role in the 1985 cult classic Back to the Future, rolls off the assembly line in Dunmurry, Northern Ireland.
• April 12 – NASA launches the Columbia Space Shuttle, the first reusable spacecraft to return from orbit.
• May 11 – Jamaican reggae icon Bob Marley dies at the age of 36.
• June 5 – The first officially recognized case of AIDS is reported in Los Angeles, California.
• July 29 – Prince Charles marries Lady Diana Spencer
• August 1 – MTV airs its first show, “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles.
• December 5 – USC running back Marcus Allen wins the Heisman Trophy.